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Idea about integrating touch typing and standard typing into one

Submitted by Vash Rein on 4 October, 2012

I was just wondering if people thought it would be a good idea to combine the standard typing with the touch typing feature. I ask this because I think it would b cool to be able
to swipe right or left like you currently can on touch typing and once you find the letter, number, symbol, or character you want, you could simply double
tap and it will be selected.
For example, in touch typing during a text, you could touch type the character you want such as "a,"then instead of going to the part of the keyboard corresponding with "m," you could simply flick to the right until you hear m and then double tap and it would be selected.
Another example would be touch typing letters and then switching to the number mode where there are numbers and punctuations. without having to rotate
and select a different typing mode, you could simply flick right or left on the symbols in order to find something like an apostrophie. Likewise when using the emogy
keyboard, you wouldn't have to change the typing mode to standard or touch, but simply click right or left to choose the emoticon image and then double
tap to slect it.
Currently on the touch typing mode, you can flick right or left after placing your finger on a character and lifting to have it selected. However, you cannot
double tap to slect the next character, but you can tripple tap to select the character twice in a row. For example, when in touch typing mode, you can
flick through characters until you reach the letter "t," and triple tapping will type out "t" twice and you are left with a double "tt." Double tapping
does nothing at all in touch typing mode.
I just thought it would be cool to have touch typing and standard typing integrated into one mode so that the voice over user could choose how they would like
to interact with the various keyboards while inputting texts, urls, phone numbers, searches, emails, or other information.

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Wow, I think this is a great idea. I often flik to find something, but then once I find it then I con't dubble tap it in touch typing moad, so then I have to find the physical location and that take even more time. I really hope they will do that.

Thanks very much. I think it would be a great idea to write an email to accessibility@apple.com. Probably just copy and paste my words to the e-mail and send it off so that apple knows that enough people would like it doene.
I've already sent it so if this something people would be interested in, they could send off an e-mail and request it and make it reality.

In standard typing mode, you have to double tap or split tap to type.
I'm not following your explanation, because it sounds like you want to kill touch typing and require double or split tapping in touch typing mode as well?

Hey guys,
Sorry I'm not totally convinced if I'm honest. Although I don't use standard typing myself, this couldn't replace it because it would only work with double-taps when you flick to find keys. Touch typing would remain when you select characters by searching for the key the normal way. So standard typing fans won't like it.
The first character, for example "a" as in your example, will be typed and you'll have to go back and delete it after you've flicked to and typed the key you actually wanted.
Am I making sense?
The only time I ever have any desire to flick through the keys is in the Emoji keyboard, but it's easy enough to switch into standard typing on the roter.
Just my own initial thoughts. Interested to see what others think.

Actually, what I am proposing is to integrate the touch and standard into one typing mode.
For example, the integration will allow the typer to press whatever key they wish, pick up their finger and have it typed. But now along with that option, the user can flick right/left to whatever other character and also double tap to type the key. This essentially means that the user will have the ability to touch type and double tap to select another key. It can be useful to have this in cases where a user is going through the punctuation keyboard and they don't know where the ) or ( or ' are. Also it can be useful to have it when the user is in the emogy keyboard and they don't know where the angry face is or the emoticon displaying the couple dancing or one where the emoticon is a devil face or a birthday cake.
I propse this to be integrated into the touch typing feature so that the user can have both abilities. The above user said that some people prefer standard typing over the touch typing and I think the standard shouldn't be toucd. In fact, it should be kept as a feature those that want it. What I am proposing is that the touch typing feature have the double feature as a benefit to the times where a character is not easily found or discoverable ad so flicking and double tapping would be beneficial. Having this would also cut down on rotating and switching to sandard typing mode and going back to the keyboard to double tap just to rotate again and switch back to touch typing.

sorry about spelling mistakes. I think that standard typing should be left alone for those who want it. I am just proposing that people be able to touch type the keys they can easily find and pick up their finger to have it typed but also have the ability to flick and then double tap keys they can't easily find like punctuations and emoticons.
Hope I clarified.

Ok that's fair enough. I do still have a concern though.
Say you're using this in the Emoji keyboard.
You are looking for the angry face.
You initially land on the happy face for example.
You lift your finger, which will type the happy face into your message.
You then flick right until you find the angry face and double-tap to type it into your message.
You have now typed the happy face and the angry face and will have to go to characters in your roter and go back and delete the happy face, right?
Isn't this just as irritating as having to switch typing mode as we currently do?
Forgive me for being picky, I'm just trying to figure out if I like the idea :)

This is unrealistic. The problem with this is that, how would you differentiate. This would only frustrate new users if this does get put in, how only god knows, and cause users already frustrated with typing to throw their phone against the wall because VO couldn't tell if they wanted to touch type or standard type, so now you have a frustrated user who can't even type if this is emplimented. I can't see this being helpful. I think the real key here is to learn the layout of your keyboard. This idea is just counterproductive and to me calls for a lot of mind reading, so to speak. I also think that instead of jumping and emailing apple accessibility, people really should get suggestions like this posted here and elseware so Apple isn't flooded with messages on a topic, all with different ideas.

No, because what you can do is tap on say the send button where nothing is selected until doubled tapped, then you can flick till you hear the angry face, then double tap that and it will be selected. then you can double tap send and no deletion needed
other things are you can tap one of the messages then flick right, tap the essage and flick right; can't go wrong because you can flick until you come accross the emoticon you want and double tap it

The more I think about this, I tend to agree that the better solution is to learn your keyboard. Yes, you could tap say the send button and start flicking until you find the button you want, but you can also put your finger on the send button then slide around until you find the button you want and lift your finger to activate it.
Say, for example, that you want the h. (I picked that because I know it is close to the middle of the keyboard). I can put my finger on the keyboard somewhere and move to the h probably much quicker than I can touch something and flick through all of the keys until I get to the h.

Hello. although you do make arguments some agree with this, I quite frankly see this as a waste of time and to be very blunt, an annoyance. we already have people staring, asking questions, do you really want someone staring at you for five minutes to send a two sentence text because you have to flick flick around? Granted people do that, and i'm not faulting someone's typing style. I'm just saying that as a fast typist I would definitely find this a very frustrating task. Though I don't think I'd resort to tossing a phone into the wall, lol. Seriously though if there were to be this feature, I'd hope there would be a toggle to type what I consider the normal way. also the other thing I would like to see, would be to lift the finger and have your message sent. I really enjoy the shift, and delete, keys not needing to be double tapped. I guess I like this way of typing because it makes me feel more of a sighted person then the touch typing where I would feel different. to each his own, and I hope others enjoy this topic.

I really agree with those that said the solution is to learn your keyboard. Implementing flicking and double tapping in touch typing mode would only serve to confuse things and make it more complecated for the system to understand what you are wanting to do. This idea of flicking and double tapping would be counter productive and slow in touch typing mode and accomplishing nothing that learning your keyboard or switching to standard typing will not do already.

I too don't seem to follow what you're proposing here but it's prob more my fault than yours; maybe I'm just tired.
But I agree with Siobhan here in that I really wish you don't have to double tap the send button; I also looove the fact that we no longer have to double tap the delete, shift and the "more" button.

My brain herts! Soon enough fleksy will be system wide, you wait and see. In my opinion, they're already hinting at it. I quote: "I typed these two messages using Fleksy and VoiceOver. And without the danger of hitting any static objects!" This means that these guys have found a way to implement the app system wide, most likely with apple's permission and type without hitting buttons such as ones in the messages app. Again, I'm basing this off of a quoted tweet, but I'll bet soon enough that you will be able to switch from fleksy to standard typing really easily and do what you have proposed here.

knowing the keyboard is one thing, but is everyone going to tell me they know where the + symbol is in the punctuation keyboard? or the % or & or $? What about the 9 pages of people emoticons or the 6 pages of nature or the 11 of objects or the 5 of place or the 10 of symbols? Those are once in a while characters and would it be important to remember them instead of having the ability to flick and double tap?
Yes I know that two spaces makes a period and that :) makes a smiley or ;) makes a wink or a :( makes a frown, but what about the devils smirk or the dancing couple or the birthday cake? Those are here and there icons and I just thought it would be cool to have the option of flicking through and double tapping instead of moving your finger around hoping to find it luckily.
I just thought integrating would be cool because it would allow the user to be able to double tap when needed or wanted and touch type without having to rotate and switch to another typing style and switching back.

You can currently flick right or left in touch typing and go through the characters and icons. The thing is you can't double tap. You can triple tap and it types out the letter, punctuation, or icon twice in a row. For example, you can flick right or left in the touch typing mode and get to the b. Double tapping does nothing, but triple tapping gives you a bb. I don't know if people are aware of this, but it is a feature. So why would you have the ability to triple tap in touch typing if it wasn't seen as a valuable option by accessibility developers? Would having the ability to double tap and have something typed out once be such a confusing thing in touch typing when triple tap exists?

I do not see need for this. I think it would confuse basic users. If you type often, you should know layout by memory. I also think Fleksy will eventually become part of OS. Apple has to be paying attention to this revolutionary way of typing.

I agree with the comment above that this would not be needed and could just be confusing. Touch typing is to move your finger to the character you want and lift your finger. When you get use to touch typing, you end up putting your finger either on or close to the character you want. To swipe through the keyboard just seems like a very inefficient cruch to use instead of getting familiar with the way the process is suppose to be used.

As stated above, you can swipe thorugh the various keyboards when in touch typing anyway. You can flick right or left to get from f to d or g or j to k to h. You can do this regardless of what people keep trying to say; that its inefficient.
Moreover, you can triple tap to have something selected twice in a row in touch typing.
Someone needs to explain how that's inefficient when it is a feature. I am literally saying that when you are touch typing, you still have the option of flicking. Triple tapping also exists, but not double tapping to select a character once if the user wants it.
Explain the inefficiency when it is completely inefficient to not know where the + symbol is in the punctuation keyboard and moving your finger around to hope to find it. If anything, flicking and double tapping when needed would give a user efficiency becausethey can find the obscure character they want while also having the ability to place their finger on parts of the keyboard they are familiar with and lift to have it selected.
STOP SAYING LEARN YOUR KEYBOARD! I KNOW IT! YOU KNOW IT! THAT IS NOT THE POINT!

Hi. While you did answer my earlier concerns, and I do get it that it wouldn't change the existing user experience, but rather it'd just add a feature, it's still not a feature I feel I have any need for if I'm honest. I do know roughly where to find most punctuation, and I have no issue popping into standard typing mode from time to time when using Emoji emoticons. So best of luck with it, but it's not a feature I'd be too bothered asking for personally.

I understand where you're coming from about how inefficient it is to scan the screen for the letter you want to type. A good solution to this problem is buying a tactile screen protector from AT Guys. There are two models of these protectors. The standard model has dots where all the keys are, except for F and J, and the advanced model has the bumps where the F and J keys would be. I use the advanced model. If I want to type an M, I don't have to scan the screen until I hear the letter M; I can just find the dot where I know the J would be and then go down and to the right. This makes things a lot easier.

I didn't even know we had an emogy keyboard. How do you find it? I thought I was pretty good with voiceover until reading this.
On another note, I must agree that using the Fleksy keyboard is almost certainly going to happen in a future upgrade. IT is too valuable and excellent not to. I'm not criticizing your idea because, even though I don't agree with this one, where would we be if we didn't share ideas?

On your iphone, go to settings, then general, then keyboard, then double tap on keyboards, then double tap on add new keyboard..., once in the list, you can swipe or flick through until you hear emogy. Double tap on it to select it and it will be available when you are typing a message, e-mail, or anything else. On the bottom left of the typing keyboard, you will see an option called 'next keyboard.' once that is tapped, it changes the keyboard interface to emogy where there are a variety of different icons to choose from and different categories. To get back to the original keyboard, tap next again and you can switch between them.

Personally, I think the current 2 ways of typing on the keyboard of I devices is perfectly fine and works well enough and requires no change. What I would rather see is a fix to all identified and confirmed bugs in the next IOS release rather than amending a feature that works perfectly fine.

Hi! My personal opinion of this idea is, that the two current choices of ways to use the onscreen keyboard, namely standard typing and touch typing, should be kept as they are: if you want to flick and double-tap, you can easily switch to standard typing, and do so temporarily if necessary. I personally use touch typing all the time, and I have a standard SpeedDots screen protector which helps me find my place on the screen, since there are dots in the position of every letter on the qwerty keyboard except f and j: however, I know the whereabouts of the letters and punctuation I regularly use, and I don't use emoticons, so it's rare that I have to work with an unfamiliar keyboard. As for making Fleksy part of IOS in the future, that definitely isn't a bad idea, but it should be an additional choice, along with standard typing and touch typing. I have two reasons for saying this: firstly, Fleksy is basically a predictive text app, something some people might not want or might not get along well with, plus, to my knowledge, Fleksy only works in English, so people who type in other languages, including multilingual people like me, would still need the other typing choices to continue to type on the touch-screens of their i-devices.

Hi! I can see where you're coming from, wanting to combine the two typing modes in IOS so that you don't have to use the rotor to change from standard typing to touch typing and vice versa. However, speaking for myself, such a way of typing, swiping to each letter or number or symbol then double-tapping it, sounds even slower than standard typing mode. I have personally used touch typing mode for nearly three years, since I got my first iPhone: I tried standard typing, but double-tapping each letter or number frustrated me so much that I changed to touch typing mode within several minutes. That's just me, though, and we're not all the same, so maybe others out there will agree with your suggestion more than I do.

I disagree as well. Combining these two would make getting started very hard for novice users. I have used thouch typing since my first VoiceOver enabled device in 2010 and feel no need for the standard typing combination. My suggestion is also to take time and learn the keyboard, thus increasing as well the speed of typing. I can almost type now with out any feedback from VoiceOver. Also I know where the punctuation marks are, so dragging the finger around and exploring the screen to find some rarely used ones doesn't really take so much time.
Finally the emoji - I don't use this much, I prefer words, since they are imo way more sincere and better than some weird images and blablabla, as said before by many others, its a personal choice, but for emoji, you could do the following, wich doesn't take so much time:
1. switch to emoji keyboard.
2. tap the send/activate/whatever button which makes the keyboard go away.
3. Flick to the emoji you want.
4. triple tap.
5. Press delete once.
Honestly, if you prefer flicking, this takes lot of less time than switching to standard typing mode via rotor.

I also do not agree that the proposal would add all that much to utility or efficiency. Moreover, even though I like Fleksy and use it most of the time, I think it would be a serious error to add it to the typing modes available via the iOS. Why? Because an app can and usually is updated *far* more often than is the iOS. Hence, if there's an error, keeping Fleksy as an app rather than having it integrated into the iOS allows squashing of bugs far more rapidly than we'd otherwise see. I don't know about you guys and gals but I would like to keep my keyboard more-or-less immune from iOS bug creep.

So disagree, agree, whatever you like. This is a feature now in all touch typing elements. When touch typing in the messages, mail, and safari, a user can touch type, double tap to select a character or symbol or emogy, and hold and tap with second finger.